Severe Weather Awareness Week kicks off

BY LISA ROGERSTimes Staff Writer

Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 11:50 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 6:07 p.m.

Severe weather can happen anytime, but March, April and May typically make up the peak season in Alabama for tornadoes and other severe storms, according to Patrick Huselton, public information officer with the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency.

That’s why Severe Weather Awareness Week, which started Sunday and runs through Friday, comes at a vital time, Huselton said.

“Before the season kicks off, we need to be looking at preparing for severe weather now,” he said.

The single most important way people can be prepared, Huselton said, is to have a weather alert radio.

He will be at several locations this week to program weather alert radios and provide information about them and about severe weather preparedness.

Huselton will be at Academy Sports and Outdoors from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and is scheduled to be at Lowe’s from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. However, there is a possibility of severe weather on Friday and if so, the Lowe’s event will be rescheduled.

Radios will be available for purchase at both locations and also will be available, along with other emergency preparedness items, during the statewide sales tax holiday set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Huselton said he can check radios to make sure they are programmed properly for the owner’s zone.

“People buy them and think they’re already programmed, and they’re not,” he said. “If you hear the voice when you turn it on, that actually is the generic information. They have to be programmed for a specific county. We cannot stress enough the importance of having one, properly programmed for your area.”

Even though a weather radio is the best way to get alerts, Huselton said, it is important to have multiple sources for receiving severe weather information.

Severe weather doesn’t only mean tornadoes, but can include downpours, flooding, powerful lightning and thunderstorms, violent winds and damaging hail.

Thunderstorms can be classified as severe if they produce winds of 58 mph or greater and/or hail of an inch in diameter or greater.

“The primary safety concern for dealing with thunderstorms is to be in a well-built structure, away from windows,” Huselton said. “This will protect you from the hail and non-tornado winds.”

He said hail is most common in the spring and can cause severe damage to automobiles and building. There have been five recorded hail fatalities in U.S. history.

“Even though it is not a frequent killer, it still can be deadly,” Huselton said.

However, lightning kills more Americans each year on average than hurricanes or tornadoes.

Since 1955, 22 people have been killed and 127 people in Alabama injured by lighting.

Huselton said timely and accurate weather information is an important aspect of safety.

“So make sure you have a way to get information, even if there is a power outage,” Huselton said. “You can use a battery-powered radio, but make sure you check the batteries in advance.”

He said it is important to pay attention to watches and warnings, and follow the advice given by the weather forecasters.

It’s also important to unplug electronics, appliances and phones; avoid water, metal and other items that conduct electricity; and stay off land-line telephones.

“Use your cellphones for emergency calls and try to charge up your cellphone before the storm gets close,” Huselton said.

<p>Severe weather can happen anytime, but March, April and May typically make up the peak season in Alabama for tornadoes and other severe storms, according to Patrick Huselton, public information officer with the Gadsden/Etowah County Emergency Management Agency.</p><p>That's why Severe Weather Awareness Week, which started Sunday and runs through Friday, comes at a vital time, Huselton said.</p><p>“Before the season kicks off, we need to be looking at preparing for severe weather now,” he said.</p><p>The single most important way people can be prepared, Huselton said, is to have a weather alert radio.</p><p>He will be at several locations this week to program weather alert radios and provide information about them and about severe weather preparedness.</p><p>Huselton will be at Academy Sports and Outdoors from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and is scheduled to be at Lowe's from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday. However, there is a possibility of severe weather on Friday and if so, the Lowe's event will be rescheduled.</p><p>Radios will be available for purchase at both locations and also will be available, along with other emergency preparedness items, during the statewide sales tax holiday set for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.</p><p>Huselton said he can check radios to make sure they are programmed properly for the owner's zone.</p><p>“People buy them and think they're already programmed, and they're not,” he said. “If you hear the voice when you turn it on, that actually is the generic information. They have to be programmed for a specific county. We cannot stress enough the importance of having one, properly programmed for your area.”</p><p>Even though a weather radio is the best way to get alerts, Huselton said, it is important to have multiple sources for receiving severe weather information.</p><p>Severe weather doesn't only mean tornadoes, but can include downpours, flooding, powerful lightning and thunderstorms, violent winds and damaging hail.</p><p>Thunderstorms can be classified as severe if they produce winds of 58 mph or greater and/or hail of an inch in diameter or greater.</p><p>“The primary safety concern for dealing with thunderstorms is to be in a well-built structure, away from windows,” Huselton said. “This will protect you from the hail and non-tornado winds.”</p><p>He said hail is most common in the spring and can cause severe damage to automobiles and building. There have been five recorded hail fatalities in U.S. history. </p><p>“Even though it is not a frequent killer, it still can be deadly,” Huselton said.</p><p>However, lightning kills more Americans each year on average than hurricanes or tornadoes.</p><p>Since 1955, 22 people have been killed and 127 people in Alabama injured by lighting.</p><p>Huselton said timely and accurate weather information is an important aspect of safety.</p><p>“So make sure you have a way to get information, even if there is a power outage,” Huselton said. “You can use a battery-powered radio, but make sure you check the batteries in advance.”</p><p>He said it is important to pay attention to watches and warnings, and follow the advice given by the weather forecasters.</p><p>It's also important to unplug electronics, appliances and phones; avoid water, metal and other items that conduct electricity; and stay off land-line telephones.</p><p>“Use your cellphones for emergency calls and try to charge up your cellphone before the storm gets close,” Huselton said.</p>